Soap, sanitizer and lotion refill units management and tracking

Abstract

An exemplary methodology for managing soap, sanitizer and lotion refills includes associating a first refill unit with a first dispenser, determining one or more usage rates for the first dispenser, determining an expected depletion date for the first refill unit. The methodology further includes associating a second refill unit with a second dispenser, determining one or more usage rates for the second dispenser, and determining an expected depletion date for the second refill unit. The methodology further includes providing instructions to move the first refill unit to the second dispenser and the second refill unit to the first dispenser.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system for managing soap, sanitizer and lotion refills comprising:
 a first dispenser;
 the first dispenser having
 a first dispenser processor; 
 a first dispenser memory; 
 first dispenser communications circuitry; 
 
 
 a first refill unit associated with the first refill dispenser; 
 a master station;
 the master station having
 a master station processor; 
 a master station memory; 
 master station communications circuitry; 
 
 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory and the master station memory for determining one or more usage rates of the first refill unit in the first dispenser; 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory and the master station memory determining an expected depletion date for the first refill unit as a function of one or more usage rates for the first dispenser; and 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory or the master station memory for providing instructions to remove the first refill unit from the first dispenser prior to the expected depletion date. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second dispenser;
 the second dispenser having
 a second dispenser processor; 
 second dispenser memory; 
 
 
 a second refill unit associated with the second dispenser;
 logic stored in the memory of one of the second dispenser memory and the master station memory for determining one or more usage rates of second refill unit in the second dispenser; 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory for providing instructions remove the second refill unit from the second dispenser. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  further comprising logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory for providing instructions install the first refill unit in the second dispenser. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2  further comprising logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory for providing instructions install the second refill unit in the first dispenser. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2  further comprising logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory for obtaining an expiration date for the first refill and an expiration date for the second refill unit and wherein providing instructions to move the first refill unit to the second dispenser and the second refill unit to the first dispenser is a function of at least one of the expiration date for the first refill and an expiration date for the second refill unit. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 2  further comprising logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory wherein providing instructions to move the first refill unit to the second dispenser and the second refill unit to the first dispenser is a function of the usage rates of the first and second dispensers. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 2  further comprising logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory wherein providing instructions to move the first refill unit to the second dispenser and the second refill unit to the first dispenser is a function of the estimated depletion dates of the first refill unit and the second refill unit. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  further comprising logic stored in the first dispenser memory for determining an expiration date of the first refill unit and logic for preventing the first dispenser from dispensing fluid from the first refill unit if the current date is later than the expiration date. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1  further comprising logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory and the master station memory for determining if the first refill unit is subject to a recall and for preventing the first dispenser from dispensing fluid from the first refill unit if the first refill unit is subject to a recall. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 2  wherein the second dispenser comprises second dispenser communications circuitry and the first dispenser and the second dispenser are configured to communicate with one another. 
     
     
       11. A system for managing soap, sanitizer and lotion refills comprising:
 a first dispenser;
 the first dispenser having
 a first dispenser processor; 
 a first dispenser memory; 
 first dispenser communications circuitry; 
 
 
 a first refill unit associated with the first refill dispenser; 
 a second dispenser;
 the second dispenser having
 a second dispenser processor; 
 second dispenser memory; 
 second dispenser communications circuitry; 
 
 
 a second refill unit associated with the second dispenser; 
 a master station;
 the master station having
 a master station processor; 
 a master station memory; 
 master station communications circuitry; 
 
 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory and the master station memory for determining one or more usage rates of the first refill unit in the first dispenser; 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory and the master station memory for determining one or more usage rates of the second refill unit in the second dispenser; 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory determining an expected depletion date for the first refill unit as a function of one or more usage rates for the first dispenser; 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory determining an expected depletion date for the second refill unit as a function of one or more usage rates for the second dispenser; and 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory for providing instructions to remove the first refill unit from the first dispenser prior to the expected depletion date of the first refill unit and to remove the second refill unit from the second dispenser prior to the expected depletion date of the second refill unit. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11  further comprising logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory for providing instructions to install the first refill unit in the second dispenser. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11  further comprising logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory for providing instructions to install the second refill unit in the first dispenser. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11  further comprising logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory for providing instructions to remove the first refill unit from the first dispenser if the first refill unit will expire prior to the expected depletion date. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 11  wherein the usage rate is a function of a first usage rate over a first period of time and a second usage rate over a second period of time. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 11  wherein the first dispenser and the second dispenser are configured to communicate with one another. 
     
     
       17. A system for managing soap, sanitizer and lotion refills comprising:
 a first dispenser;
 the first dispenser having
 a first dispenser processor; 
 a first dispenser memory; 
 first dispenser communications circuitry; 
 
 
 a first refill unit associated with the first refill dispenser; 
 a master station;
 the master station having
 a master station processor; 
 a master station memory; 
 master station communications circuitry; 
 
 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory and the master station memory for determining one or more usage rates of the first refill unit in the first dispenser; 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory and the master station memory determining an expected depletion date for the first refill unit as a function of one or more usage rates for the first dispenser; 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory and the master station memory determining an expiration date for the first refill unit; 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory and the master station memory determining whether the expected depletion date is prior to the expiration date and 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory or the master station memory for providing instructions to remove the first refill unit from the first dispenser prior to the expected depletion date. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a second dispenser;
 the second dispenser having
 a second dispenser processor; 
 second dispenser memory; 
 
 
 a second refill unit associated with the second dispenser;
 logic stored in the memory of one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory and the master station memory for determining one or more usage rates of second refill unit in the second dispenser; 
 logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory for providing instructions remove the second refill unit from the second dispenser. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  further comprising logic stored in one of the first dispenser memory, the second dispenser memory, and the master station memory for providing instructions to install the first refill unit in the second dispenser. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18  wherein the first dispenser and the second dispenser communicate with one another.